Electric sparker for gasolene-engines.



No. 055,406. Patented Aug. 7, |9001'A J. 0. MAcPHEnsoN. ELECTRIC SPARKERFR GASOLENE ENGINES.

(Apucmon med Nov. 22, 1899.1

(Ilo Modal.)

L NI VNrrn rA `Es ATENT "Enron,

.roi-IN G. MACPHERSON, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE To TI-IEMAcPHEI-:SON AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, OE NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SPARKER FOR GASOLENE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming pm of Letters Patent No. 655,406, dated. August v,1900.

Application filed November 22, 1899. Serial No. 7373864. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, tv may concern.'

Beit known that I, JOHN G. MAOPHEESON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Sparkers for GasOlene-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved electric sparker forgasoleneengines and one object is to provide a sparker which is certainin operation and which is adapted to operate exactly when the piston ofthe engine has reached its full forward limit and compressed the gaswithin the firing-head of the cylinder, yet the construction is suchthat the spark will take place at an earlier point of travel of thepiston-head, thus enabling the 'control of the speed of the engine.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a sparker which maybe operated by a battery and dispense with the use of vibrating coils,employing in place thereof a simple spark-coil.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sparker forgasolene-engines which automatically cleans itself and takes up all wearand tear upon the sparking-points thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, andthoroughly practical electric sparker for gasolene engines which isquick and positive in its action.

To attain the desired objects, the invention consists of an electricsparker embodying novel features of construction and combination ofparts,substantially as disclosed herein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a portion ofa gasolene-engine cylinder with my sparker attached thereto; and Fig. 2is an end view of the main parts of my sparker removed from operativeposition with the engine, but in their relative operative position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the cylinder ofthe'engine.

2 designates the shaft operated by the engine, which carries on its enda cam 3, having an angular or V-shaped notch or recess 4: in theperiphery thereof.

Mounted in the end of the cylinder-head is a rod or shaft 5, which isheld movably therein by means of a threaded nut or bushing y6, andcarried by the shaft, outside of the cylinder-head, is an arm orprojecting lever '7, and surrounding Said shaft is a coiled spring 8,which is adapted to give the lever an upward movement against the cam.

Carried upon the inner end of the shaft 5 is a spring-arm 9, which is atright angles to the shaft and has its end projecting through the opening10 of the cylinder-head into the gas-supply chamber 11, which iscontrolled by an ordinary valve 12. An'opening 13 is made in the end ofthe supply-chamber, in which ts a threaded sleeve or bushing 14, havingthe depression or circular recess 15, in which tits the ring `16, andadapted to iit within the opening of the bushing is the insulator orhollow porcelain cylinder 16', the ring 16 being adapted to hold theinsulator tightly in the bushing.

Fitting in the cylinder is the conductor or rod 17 which has thewire-connecting means 18, and adapted to hold this brass or rod intoplace is a small threaded sleeve 19.

Secured upon the inner end of the conductor is a circular platinum plate20, which is adapted to be normally contacted by the square platinumplate 21, secured upon the end of the spring-arm 9.

The circuit may be made through any part of the engine; but I prefer tomake it through the post 22, which is connected to the sparkcoil 23.

From this description, taken with the drawings, the operation of mysparker will be readily understood and its numerous advantages fullyappreciated; but the operation brieliy stated is as follows: When thepiston of the engine is upon its backward stroke, the gas enters intothe cylinder, and as it returns the gas is compressed into the head ori'ing-chamber 24 of the cylinder, and as the Shaft 2 revolves thenotched caml the lever resting upon the cam is kept inthe same positionuntil it strikes the notch, when the springupon the rod 5 gives thelever aquick upward movement and causes the platinum upon the end of thespring-arm to be quickly disconnected from the circular disk, thuscausing a spark which ignites the gas within the firing-chamber, theexplosion of the gas IOO forcing the piston on its backward stroke,thisoperation being repeated every revolution of the shaft 2. The end of thespring-arm is so contacted with the circular disk as to keep the squareplate and circular plates perfectly clean, as the end of the rod 5 whenits arm is operated upon by the cam of the engineshaft gives thespring-arm a very slight sliding movement before it disengages thesquare plate from the edge of the circular plate.

It is evident that I provide a sparker for gasolene-engines which isVery easy and accurate and also positive in its operation, very simple,durable, and inexpensive in construction, and thoroughly efficient andpractical in use.

I claim- In combination with a gasolene and gas engine, of a sparkertherefor, comprising an insulator mounted in the end of a gas-supplychamber, a cylindrical conductor fitting in said insulator, acirculardisk carried upon the inner end of said conductor, a sleevemounted in the head of the eXplosion-chamber, a shaft mounted in saidsleeve, a springl arm carried by and at right angles to the inner end ofsaid shaft the free end of said spring-arm extending into the gas-supplychamber, a plate carried by the free end of said arm in position to haveits face contact With the edge of the disk upon the conductor, and aspring tending to separate the disk and plate, and a cam for bringingthem together provided with means to release Athe spring to disengagethe disk and plate to makeaspark. In testimony whereof I afx mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN Gr. MACPHEIEtSON.

DAVID P. MOORE.

